Waste Management
TWPC – EnergX is a prime contractor to DOE – ORO and functions as the Management and Operation Contractor for the Transuranic (TRU) Waste Processing Facility, a Hazard Category 2 Nuclear Facility, at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. EnergX has performed the work without incident and has met all milestones since taking over the facility in 2006. EnergX has been recognized by DOE-ORO for Outstanding and Excellent Performances in the 2007, 2008, and 2009 annual evaluation. In addition, EnergX has been recognized by the National Safety Council for 4 years of a perfect safety record. EnergX has also achieved VPP Star Status at the TWPC site and ISO 14001 certification.
EnergX is responsible for all aspects of the project including waste acceptance, waste tracking, characterization, processing, treatment, packaging, disposing, and transportation. Waste types including: LLW, MLLW, CH-TRU, RH-TRU, MTRU. The project is performed in compliance with all state and EPA regulations, DOE audited and approved project controls program, and 70 DOE Orders including DOE O 413.3, project management. EnergX has waste certification programs that have been approved by Nevada Test Site (NTS) and Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).
Key innovations for waste processing include:
- “Smart Processing Decision Model” optimizes waste disposition path evaluations and maximizes TWPC processing for appropriate waste streams. High fissile gram content of the TWPC-specific waste limits most commercial processing outlets.
- Processing scheme maximizes identification of non-TRU waste (LLW/MLLW) that can be processed at lower cost
- Incorporate Lean Processing and Sigma techniques
- Continuously incorporate lessons learned
Building 3026 – As an integrated Team member on the ARRA funded Building 3026 D&D at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), EnergX was responsible for the entire waste management program. As part of that program, EnergX prepared a Waste Handling Plan that provided for the segregation, size reduction, handling, and transport of all wastes. Additional waste management activities included:
- Demolition debris sampling and data package preparation
- Provide packaging for waste bound for EMWMF and elsewhere
- Provide transportation to EMWMF
- Ensure Waste Acceptance Criteria compliance
- Identify/remove prohibited items
- Treat/dispose of any prohibited items
- Set up and manage any required SAAs.
“This project will eliminate the significant radiological and fire hazards associated with this facility,” said ORNL Director Thom Mason. “Many people think of this as a cleanup activity, but this project is also important because it eliminates the risks that this aging structure presents to ORNL’s ongoing research mission.”
Argonne National Laboratory – As part of the Building 330 D&D project at Argonne National Laboratory, EnergX is performing all waste management activities associated with this radiologically contaminated facility. Building 330, the former Chicago Pile 5 (CP5) research reactor facility, is located in the south-central area of the Argonne site. The 48,900 cubic foot building is constructed of concrete and structural steel, originally consisting of the reactor containment room. The reactor was used for various scientific experiments over the years.
EnergX developed a comprehensive waste management program for the safe and compliant handling of all wastes (universal, hazardous, radioactive) resulting from the demolition of this facility. Radioactively contaminated waste will be NTS WAC compliant, shipped to and disposed of at the Nevada Test site (NTS) using EnergX’s NTS-approved waste certification program. EnergX has developed project-specific procedures and protocols for the management of the Building 330 wastes. EnergX supports the entire waste management program with samplers, analytical laboratory interface, waste profile development, waste packaging compliance and specification, waste package certification, DOT compliance and waste shipment tracking. The demolition is expected to generate an estimated 8,480 m3 of low-level radioactive waste in the form of building debris. The contaminants of concern are, predominantly H-3 (Tritium), Co-60 and Cs-137. Asbestos containing materials such as floor tile and insulation will be disposed of per DOE guidelines.
